World premiere: 11 January 1881, Bolshoi Theatre, Moscow, Russia
Premiere of this production: 5 October 1996

As interpreted by Evgeny Kolobov, the opera Eugene Onegin is the quintessence of fatal passions, wasted feelings and severed relationships. All the characters live in sorrow, feeling lonely. The rapid action carries no festivity and comes to a tragic denouement. “O death, I’m looking forward to you!” was the finale of the Tchaikovsky opera’s first version, on which the Novaya Opera’s staging is based.

Synopsis

Scene 1Madame Larina. Her daughters: Tatiana, Olga. Nurse. Vladimir Lensky. Eugene Onegin. Neighbors, guests.The Larins’ home.Lensky, a neighbor of the Larins and Olga’s bridegroom, unexpectedly brings his friend Onegin, recently arrived from the capital, to visit them. The unknown guest causes a kerfuffle in the dailyroutine of the Larin household: no one hides their interest in him. Onegin doubts in the wisdom of his friend’s choice. The meeting with Onegin has made a deep impression on Tatiana.

Scene 2Tatiana. Nurse.Night-time.Noticing Tatiana’s agitation, her nurse tries to distract her and calm her down. Left alone, Tatiana writes a letter to Onegin. She sees him as her chosen one. At dawn, Tatiana asks her nurse todeliver the letter to Onegin.

Scene 3Tatiana. Eugene Onegin.Day-time.Tatiana anxiously awaits an answer to her declaration of love. Onegin arrives. He is touched by Tatiana’s sincerity, but cannot reciprocate her feelings.

Scene 4Madame Larina. Tatiana. Olga. Vladimir Lensky. Eugene Onegin. Nurse. Zaretsky. Neighbors, guests.Tatiana’s Name-day.Lensky has persuaded Onegin to pay another visit to the Larins. But he is irritated by everything. Deciding to punish Lensky for bringing him, he demonstratively flirts with Olga. Olga’s promptresponse to Onegin’s advances, afflicts Lensky. He picks a quarrel with Onegin and challenges him to a duel.

Scene 5Vladimir Lensky. Eugene Onegin. Zaretsky. Guillot.Morning.Lensky awaits Onegin. He thinks with pain and anguish about his life. Onegin, who arrives late, is reluctant to take the conflict to its conclusion. Both men feel privately that they have actedrashly. But it is too late, there is no going back. A shot is fired, Lensky is fatally wounded.

Scene 6Eugene Onegin. Tatiana. Prince Gremin. Guests.Several years later.After a long absence, Onegin has returned to life in the capital and meets Tatiana. She is married and social life in the capital now revolves round her. The transformation in Tatiana and the factshe is now out of reach arouse mad passion in Onegin.

Scene 7Tatiana. Eugene Onegin.Onegin manages to obtain a meeting with Tatiana. His words ring with repentance and regret. Demanding that his passion be reciprocated, he extorts from Tatiana the admission that she still loveshim.But her decision to stay with her husband is final. Onegin is distraught.